1. Chapter Four Chinese Wedding Cai Shengqin

2. content Major Elements in Wedding Tradition and Morden Ceremony Etiquettes CONTENTS

3. content Introduction Wedding in China Marriage is the most important thing in the life. In China, a traditional wedding is simple and lively, ceremonious and joyful. There are some unique features in the ceremony, but in modern society, esp. in the city, it is hardly seen any more. Some of elements is still been kept.

4. content Wedding Paper Cuts Wedding in China During the wedding, many families decorate the window panes of their new houses with pleasant-looking papercuts portraying Chinese opera characters, flowers, birds, butterfly, and fish.

5. content Wedding Paper Cuts Wedding in China Double Happiness: the papercut contains 2 Chinese word Xi ( 喜 happy), and some other designs, such as dragon and phonix, flowers, lantern.

6. content Wedding Couplets Wedding in China Wedding Couplets （ Couplets, written on strips of red paper, are a major part of the Chinese celebration custom ） is just like the spring festival couplets, posting the both sides of the gate of groom’s home.

7. content The Bridal Sedan 花轿 Wedding in China The bridal sedan (Huajiao) is the core of traditional wedding. In wedding, the bride should sit in the sedan, then be lifted from her mother’s home to the groom’s home. Two kinds of sedan: 4- lifter and 8- lifter dragon sedan phoenix

8. content The Bridal Sedan 花轿 Wedding in China There are so many suites who hold gongs, umbrellas, fans and so on, besides lifters. In group, there are more than 10 people at least, and the occasion is very magnificent. Bride wears a red veil. Accompanied with a bridemaid. Modern time: cars instead.

9. content The Ceremony 拜天地 Wedding in China The wedding ceremony is the most important part of the traditional marrige. The groom stands on the left side, the bride right by his side, while the director prompts, “First bow to the heaven and earth; second bow to the parents; third bow to each other.” (Bai Tian Di)

10. content The Ceremony 拜天地 Wedding in China According to the folk saying, they will not be the formal couple until bowing to the heaven and earth. If the groom cannot come to this ceremony for some reason, he should as his sister to hold a rooster instead. (Bai Tian Di)

11. content The Bridal Chamber 洞房 Wedding in China After taking the brdal sedan, bowing to the heaven, it’s time for the newlyweds to go to the bridal chamber. According to the custom, their relatives and friends (same generation) gets together in the chamber to banter the newlyweds. (Nao Dong Fang)

12. content The Bridal Chamber 洞房 Wedding in China At this time, the new couple will never get angry even if the teasing games are a bit outrageous, but will try to skillfully disolve since the relatives and friends intend to delight them. (Nao Dong Fang)

13. content The Red Package Wedding in China Children who greet the bride and groom receive red packets (Hong Bao), with some money inside. The parents on the wedding ceremony usually give red packages to the bride and groom after their bowing.

14. content Wedding Celebration Wedding in China In the daytime of the wedding, performances such as a dragon lantern dance, a lion dance, a land boat dance, a Yangge dance, walking on stilts and beating drums while dancing will be staged.

15. content The Wedding Banquet Wedding in China The wedding banquet is being holden to treat all the relatives and friends after the ceremony. Usually, the bride and groom will waiting for the relatives at the gate of the restaurant, while receiving the red package from all attenders..

16. content The Wedding Banquet Wedding in China Toast (Jingjiu): Bride changes into red Cheong-sam or Qi-pao after the cerenomy if they take the morden way in white, toasts to each table accompanied by the groom and their parents.

17. Red Color: Couplets and papercuts Major Elements in Wedding The Bridal Sedans The Bride’s Red Veil Ceremony: Bowing to the Heaven and Earth Dragon and Lion Dances Chinese Wedding Red Package with Money inside Wedding Banquet and Toasts to All

18. content Special Etiquette Wedding and Festivals Color: Red and white for bride Dark Suit for the groom No white for the attenders. Red Package: prepared Seats: Seats are always important. Find your appropriate seat, avoiding offence and enbarrassing situation.

19. content Special Etiquette Wedding and Festivals Seats: Seats are always important. Find your appropriate seat, avoiding offence and enbarrassing situation. Rural family: seats order

20. content Special Etiquette Wedding and Festivals Seats: Seats are always important. Find your appropriate seat, avoiding offence and enbarrassing situation. Rural family: seats order 12 34 56 78

21. Some Other Customs Trousseau (pei jia) Three Days Return Crying Leave （ ku jia ）

22. Other Custom Ku Jia: Crying Leave Pei Jia: Trousseau

23. content Crying Leave （哭嫁） Wedding and Festivals Crying leave: The bride’s thanks to the parents’ bringing up. Tujia zhu: in the west of Hubei province. 天上星多月不明，爹爹为我苦费心， 爹的恩情说不尽，提起话头言难尽。 一怕我们受饥饿，二怕我们生疾病； 三怕穿戴比人丑，披星戴月费苦心。 四怕我们无文化，送进学堂把书念， 把你女儿养成人，花钱费米恩情深。

24. content Pei Jia: Trousseau Wedding and Festivals Pei Jia: ( 陪嫁 ): Trousseau, showing the wealth of her family, to establish the self-esteem and confidence for the future life.

25. content Pei Jia:Trousseau Wedding and Festivals Pei Jia: ( 陪嫁 ): Trousseau, as a marrige portion, come with the bride to the new family. The more, the better, for the future respectation.

26. Cai Shengqin caisqq@126.com Chapter Five Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Images of Blessing

27. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Kylin （麒麟） Phoenix （凤凰） Tortoise （灵龟） Dragon （龙）

28. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 1. Kylin （麒麟）： The kylin in legend has a body like a deer in scutum （鳞）. There is a single nubby born on its head. The feet are just like the hooves （蹄） of horses, and the tail is just like the oxtail.

29. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice The kylin is regarded as a very king animal with a moral character. All the emperors in the past dynasties regarded it as the symbol of peace. Copper-casting, and stone-carving.

30. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice kylin （麒麟）： Among people, the kylin is also highly respected. Paper kylin- south—best wishes “Kylin Brings the son”-success of a new generation, best wish for the family tree continuation.

31. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice kylin （麒麟）： Copper-casting, and stone-carving.

32. content Four Deities-Symbols: Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 2. Phoenix （凤凰）： The phoenix has a beautiful crista on its head and colorful feathers on the body. It is an imaginary lucky bird that is combined from characters of many other birds and animals.

33. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice phoenix （凤凰）： The phoenix is the king of the Birds Kingdom in Chinese legend, meaning luck, peace, and rightness.

34. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 2. phoenix （凤凰）： The phoenix, with dragon, were regarded by the emperors as the symbol of their power and dignity. The phoenix coronet, the phoenix carriage and other things that are related to the phoenix were specially reserved for the royalty and divine.

35. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Reserved for the royalty: In ancient China, no one else except the royalty family can dress the designs and use the other utensils with the design. Otherwise, it would be regarded as offence to the dignity of the power. He would be executed, and embroil the calamity to his whole family.

36. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Dragon and phoenix （龙凤呈祥）： However, the phoenix become a mascot among the people. Especially in the traditional Chinese wedding.

37. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Dragon and phoenix （龙凤呈祥）：

38. content Images of Blessing Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Dragon and phoenix （龙凤呈祥）：

39. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Dragon and phoenix （龙凤呈祥） And other crafts ：

40. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice The phoenix is the most important decoration on the bridal dress and headwear, signifying luck and happiness.

41. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice In Chinese traditional designs and drawings,the phoenix image is quite popular it brings luck and peace to the people. The phoenix is also designed together with other mascots, kylin, crane, pine tree and flowers.

42. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Dragon and phoenix （龙凤呈祥） And other crafts ：

43. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Dragon and phoenix （龙凤呈祥） And other crafts ： Normal design

44. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Phoenix and Chu Culture Hubei and Hunan, Sichuan, Henan Hubei is the center of ancient Chu state. Jingzhou was the capital city in the Chu State. This is Why Jingzhou take phoenix as their totem.

45. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice Phoenix and Chu Culture Jingzhou was the capital city in the Chu State. Designs with phoenix

46. China Qin State Chu State

47. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 3. Dragon The dragon is regarded as the first important animal of Chinese totem and it is the most important mascot. The dragon was born from the imagination of the people just like phoenix and Kylin.

48. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 3. Dragon It has a bull’s head, a deer’s horn, a lobster’s eyes, an eagle’s claws, a snake’s body, a lion’s tail, and is covered with scutum. It is a combination of different kinds of animals.

49. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 3. Dragon In the imagination, it can walk on land, swim under water, and fly in the sky. It has incredible power. Over thousands of years in China, the emperors treated it as the symbol of power and dignity, and in mind of common people.

50. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 3. Dragon On the roof of palaces and temples, on the devices of royalty, the dragon is painted and sculptured. Dragon dance, dragon boat, in the festivals. The symbol of whole nation

51. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 4. The tortoise The tortoise is an exception in the 4 lucky animals, as it really exists and has the longest life span among animals.

52. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 4. The tortoise It is regarded as the symbol of longevity. It is said that it has ability to foresee the life. In old China, before significant activities, the fortuneteller will take the shell of tortoise, and read the future according to the cracks in the shell.

53. Four Deities-Symbols of Auspice 4. The tortoise The tortoise is an Saint Tortoise always being put in the front of gate or temple. Crane, pine trees

54. Thank you!